Bohn chapin hicks



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. C. HICKS STOCK GAR. No. 437,596. Patented Sept. 30. 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-skelet 2. B. C. HICKS.

STOCK GAR.

Patented Sept. 30, 1890;

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vBOHN CHAPIN HICKS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE HICKS STOCK CAR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, lILLI-Y NOIS.

STOCK-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,596, dated September 30, 1890.

Application led January 18, 1889. Serial No. 296,756. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, BoHN OHAPIN HICKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Movable Partitions for Stock-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of stock- Io cars provided with movable flexible stall divisions orpartitions for dividing the interior of the car into compartments 5 andthe invention consists in the construction ofthe framework of the car, whereby the movable divisions may be more economically disposed as to space and with less obstruction to the interior of the car, and in the mechanism for raising and lowering the partitions.

The improvements are illustrated in the zo accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical cross -section of a stock-car with the improvements embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the same, showing one of 2 5 the flexible partitionslowered down; and Fig.

3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the central portion of the car with one of the ilexible partitions elevated.

`A is the floor; A2, the vertical side stanchionsor side posts; A3, the longitudinal plates or stringers; A4 A5, the carlings or roof-timbers, and A6, `the roof of a stock-car.. The floor and stanchions or side posts are of substantially the ordinary construction, except v that the latter are somewhat wider and are arranged in pairs at the points Where the flexible partitions occur to form guides for the ends of the partitions. The adjacent side posts of each pair are located parallel with 4o each other, so that they constitute a guideway for one vertical edge of the iiexible partition. The stringers A3 are set inward, as shown, leaving spaces a for the insertion of thefeed into the feed-racks a2 from above, as shown. The carlings or roof-timbers A4 A5 are formed double or in pairs, one above the other, leaving spacesb ybetween them, through which the flexible partitions are adapted to pass when elevated, as shown in Fig. 3. The 5o roof A rests upon the upper series of oarlings A4, the whole forming thereby an elevated roof over a portion of thecar orits entire length, as desired'. The car is by reason of this elevated roof made higher th'anj an ordinary box freight-car. The lower carlings A5 occupy substantially the same position as the usual roof-carlings in an ordinary car, so that the interior space below them has the same carrying capacity as an ordinary oar. The elevated roof thus serves to'l provide space for the paraphernalia of the stock-car without obstructing the clear inner space in the car, so that the car may be utilized for ordinary freight purposes wlien not in use forA transporting stock. y When the flexible partitionsare employed at short intervals, so as tg provide a separate stall for each animal, the elevated roof will extend the entire length of the car; but where only two are employed (as will generally be the case when used in a double-deck car, as in the drawings) then the elevated roof will extend only far enough to provide a recep-v tacle for the flexible partitions.

The sections S S, which constitute the V7 5 double deck, are indicated in the drawings. As is well known, in double-deck stock-carsV the double-deck sections are movable and are adapted to be raised and lowered, so that the car may be used with or without the double deck. The manner in which such double-deck sections may be raised toV the upper part of Y the car is set forth in Letters Patent'of the United States granted to me .I une 22,1886, No. 344,044. v 85 The present improvements are particularly adapted to be used in stock-cars wherein movable double-deck sections are employed.

Across the car, atvor near the ends of the elevated roof portion, shafts B are journaled, having hand-wheels B2 or other means of revolving them, and with cable-winding drums Bs near their ends inside the car. These wind-y ing-drums are each adapted to receive the two ends of a cable or chain B4, one end'of V95 each of the cables being attached at one end .to each of the drums on opposite sides 'and-at v opposite ends and with one end of each of the cables Wound about its drums several times and then the bight passed over carrier-sheaves 1 oo fastened securely to the drums. The carriersheaves are located in the same horizontal plane as the winding-drums, and the strandsA of the cables between the sheaves and drum extend in substantially a horizontal plane.

The flexible partitions'are formed of slats D connected by chains D2 at their ends, the uppermost link of each chain being coupled at D3 to the lower section or strand of the cables B4, and the partitions being otherwise unconnected to the cables, so that when the shaft B is revolved in one direction the iiexi- `the cables and keep them taut.

ble partition will be drawn upward over guide-sheaves D4 and passed along between the two sets of carlings A4 A5, as shown in Fig. 3, leaving the interior of the car below the carlings entirely unobstructed. Then when the shafts B are revolved in the opposite direction the partition will be run down again across the interior of the car, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The guide-sheaves D4 are an important feature, since they afford (with a minimum friction) vguides in the, per part of the car over which the flexible partition is drawn by the cables, and by means of which the partition, as it is elevated, is drawn into a horizontal position. These guides are located beneath the cables near the upper edge of the partition when lowered and substantially tangential to the 'side of the partition when the f latter is in its lowermost position.

Attached to the stringers A3 on aline even with the upper surfaces of the lower carlings A5 are horizontal carrier-strips E to support the edges of the iiexible partitions when the latter are elevated, so as to prevent the possible sagging of the partitions.

The carrier-sheaves B5 are j our-naled in hangers F', the latter pivoted atcZ to the carframe, and the upper ends of each adjacent pair of hangers connected by an adjustingrod F2 to form a tension device for the cables, since the setting up of the nuts on the rod F2, as will be readily understood, will draw the two sheaves toward each other and thus strain By this form of construction the roof-frame is formed with the double carlings or timbers A4 A5 leaving a space between them for the storage of the flexible partitions when not in use, so that the interior of the car is thereby left entirely unobstructed when the partitions are elevated and the car left free for freight when not in use as a stock-car.

If it werenot for the extra height of the car, due to the elevated roof and the double carlings,.and. for the space between the double carlings fory the passage and storage ofthe flexible partitions, it would be necessary to have the partitions when elevated partly obstruct the space in the interior of the car,

vwhich would otherwise be available for thev to the top of the car, said double-deck section can, when elevated, lie flat against the under faces of theV lower carlings without interfering with the iiexible partitions and without being interfered with by them.

The iexible partitions operate more freely from below the cables than from above them and permit the shafts B' to be placed at any desired point in the car with reference to the sheaves B5, which is a great advantage under some circumstances.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a stock-car, a cross-shaft journaled near the roof thereof, winding-drums fast to said'shaft near its ends, carrier-sheaves near the roof of the car and. in substantially the same horizontal plane as said drums, and cables which pass aroundsaid drums and around said carrier-sheaves, the strands of said cables between said drums and sheaves extending in a substantially horizontal plane and along the upper part of the car only, in combination IOO per edge to said cables and otherwise unconnected therewith, and guides near the roof of the car beneath said cables and near the upper edge of said partition when in its lowermost position, whereby said partition passes over said guides and is raised and loweredl across the car by the rotation of said windingshaft, substantially asset forth.

2. In a stock-car, a cross-shaft, winding drums fast thereon, and carrier-sheaves, all mounted in the top of the car, cables which pass around said drums and said carriersheaves, the strandsl of said cables between said drums and sheaves extending` in substantially a horizontal plane and along the upper part of the car only, and a iiexible partition connected at its upper edge to said cables and otherwise unattached thereto, whereby said partition is raised and lowered by the rotation of said shaft and the movement of said cables, in combination with horizontal carrier-strips along the upper part of the sides of the car for supporting the ends of said partition when the same is elevated, substantially as set forth.

3. A stock-car frame consisting of the floor A', side stanchions or side posts A2, doubleroof carlings A4 A5, and horizontal support- IIO llZO

ing-strips E, in combination with cross-shafts B', having winding-drums B3, cables B4, earlier-sheaves B5, and flexible lpartitions conneoted to lsaid cables, whereby said partitions are capable when raised of being supported between said earlings and upon said strips, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a stock-car, double-roof carlings having spaces between theln and longitudinal supporting-strips along the sides of the car, in combination with a flexible partition adapted to be raised and lowered across said ear and supported when elevated within the space between said carlings and upon said supporting-strips, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A stock-car frame consisting of the floor,

paired side posts or stanchons, and the roofframe formed with double carlings and with y longitudinal supporting-strips along the sides of the car, in combination Wit-h a flexible partition adapted to be raised and lowered across said car with its ends supported by said paired side posts when down and Ysupported within the space between said earlings and upon said supporting-strips when elevated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BOHN CHAPIN HICKS. Witnesses:

C. N. WooDWARD, H. S. WEBSTER. 

